SA Hear my Voice! Planning nipped in the bud

One of the most important things which 2020 has taught me is to take life one day at a time. I discovered that the most common answer to my many questions regarding this strange year was, “Nobody knows. We’ll have to wait and see.”

The words “My fellow South Africans” will always remind me of gathering around the TV as a family, waiting with expectancy for President Ramaphosa to provide us with answers.

James 4:13-15 (MSG) became a very real reality during 2020. It says the following: “And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, “Today at the latest, tomorrow we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money.” You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, “If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.””

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that there isn’t a single person alive who did not experience some kind of disappointment in the year that’s behind us. So many of our plans were never realised. Weddings were cancelled, sports events were almost non-existent, academic years were interrupted, social gatherings with friends were limited and businesses suffered tremendously.

2021 started on a similar note when the second wave of COVID-19 hit South Africa. This time statistics of those getting infected and dying were familiar names and faces. Although this does not compare to the loss of a loved one, I had a few disappointments of my own to work through. As a Matric student in 2021, the 25^th of January could not come fast enough. We were excited to welcome the grade eights to our school’s family. When the fellow South Africans gathered in front of the TV in the middle of January, our plans came crashing down. The list of disappointments goes on – some bigger and some smaller – but all very real. The reality of COVID-19 and the way in which it changed our lives hit me.

Which begs the question: how do we deal with these disappointments and uncertainties?

To me, the answer lies in faith. Faith in our Father, as the one and only sovereign God who loves us, in Jesus Christ our saviour and salvation and the Holy Spirit as our wisdom, guidance and ever-present help in need. It is our choice to make the most of the opportunities given to us each day and to not get disheartened when our plans are nipped in the bud. Let’s choose faith above fear and find joy in the smallest of things. Let’s learn to appreciate and be thankful for that which we do have. Let’s not allow these disappointments and uncertainties to get the better of us. Let’s hold on to His promises over our lives, and work to make that our focus.

I would like to leave you with some practical advice from the living word of God. Philippians 4:6-7 (TPT) “Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life,then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.”

By Stefan van der Colf